There’s no rest for the wicked. Now that Sinna has successfully transformed 501K into one of the most beautiful K-pop groups out, their popularity is souring and so are opportunities. But our girl doesn’t have time to wallow in love bites from her Korean cutie because her work load is blowing up along with everything else.
In this week’s blog, which picks up where last week’s left off, Sinna’s already big job gets a little bigger. Now that rumors are thick on the streets/Internet about her alleged relationship with Tan, Mr. Big Wig wants to leverage the publicity by having her appear on a variety show. She is not pleased.
The picture, in case you’ve been living under a rock, is of V from BTS. Poor thing. He’s sexy as hell, but I hope being constantly told he’s beautiful doesn’t ruin him.
XOXO,
SS
“Mr. Big Wig wants you to do a variety show.”
Tapping away on her laptop Sinna didn’t immediately acknowledge Saint. There was no break after Japan. With several successful appearances and performances behind them, she had to hustle like her life depended on it if she was going to have things ready before the first leg of the tour began. She’d never admit it, but the stress was starting to get to her.
The concert costumes weren’t the problem. Her seamstresses were fast and excellent at following her very precise instructions. They were ready for the stage.
The crisis came with the airport runs, appearances, and V-live sessions she had to dress the members for. It seemed like more things were being added to the schedule almost every day, and they had all grown to depend on her. They looked to her damn near before they got dressed in the morning. As a result, they always looked great. But she was tired as hell from keeping up with the near constant demand for new outfits.
It wasn’t just curating new looks, it was appropriately acknowledging all of the designers who gave them product via social media, and she had to constantly cultivate those relationships to keep the right new products coming. Time zones were her enemy. Her team was posting online multiple times every day, and she was constantly on the phone or on her email planning, plotting and relationship building. Then there was makeup, hair, staff issues, budget. It was a ton of shit to juggle, and nothing could slip through the cracks.
Wasn’t for close proximity to all this Korean skincare my ass would probably have wrinkles, she thought. She even noticed a grey hair the other day, which she ruthlessly cut after luridly cursing its very existence. How dare it make a home on her elegant head when she was dating a fabulous younger man?
“Sinna!”
“What?”
“Mr. Big Wig wants you to do a variety show,” Saint repeated patiently.
“A televised variety show?”
“Yup.”
“Just me?”
“Yup.”
“No.”
“I told him that’s what you’d say.”
“Cool,” she said, still typing.
“He really wants you to do it. Apparently interest in you is extremely high now that you and Tan are a couple.”
“We aren’t a public couple.”
They hadn’t officially acknowledged anything, but rumors were rampant now that pictures of them were all over the Internet. She’d become extremely adept at ignoring nosy questions, and she had Jon warn everyone on the Korean staff that if she found out any pictures or gossip leaked from their camp, they would quickly be unemployed. She was even getting fan hate online. Joy.
“No, but people are very interested in you because 501K looks so good these days. You’re almost as big a celebrity as they are.”
Sinna scoffed. “Exaggerate much, Sainty?”
“I am not exaggerating! You’ve made a serious name for yourself.”
“We made a serious name for the company,” she corrected.
“Don’t split hairs with me, negro! I don’t know why you don’t want to capitalize on this opportunity to get free publicity.”
“Because I’ve seen those shows! Most of them are silly as hell, and if they decide they don’t like you they’ll humiliate you on the air. I also don’t speak the language, and I think you know I simply don’t have time. Did he forget he amended our contract to include all these goddamn photo shoots, publicity events, fan meetings and every other cat up a tree situation he can think of?”
“I told him you’d say that too. And he did increase our salary/budget.”
“As well he should with all this extra work.”
Saint sighed. “He assured me the hosts have been warned, and this isn’t one of those silly shows. I misspoke when I called it a variety show. It’s more like a talk show, and it’s partially held in English. One of the two hosts has a well-known soft spot for black women. Apparently he’s beyond excited that you’re considering them. You’re a catch!”
Sinna hmmmphhed. “Surprise surprise. If I had a stack for every time I’ve heard that since we’ve been in Korea I wouldn’t even have to work. Still doesn’t change the fact that I don’t have time. Did you forget the girls are coming in?”
Saint grinned and rubbed his hands together. “Hell no! I can’t wait. I miss home, and they’re bringing the Windy City live! But I still think you should do it.”
“Why?”
“You’ll show another side to yourself, and now that you’re out here with an idol, you need people to like you,” he said.
He was right, which was annoying.
“And you never know what kind of opportunities will come out of it. You flip it right, you’ll have that much less work cultivating new brands.”
“Now you sound like me,” she sighed. “But I barely have time to sleep, Sainty. I honestly don’t think I can take on anything else.”
Her cousin stroked her back comfortingly. “Bullshit,” he said cheerfully. “If we need to bring someone else out, we’ll do it to free up some of your time. You budgeted for more help,” he reminded her. “You just haven’t had time to find anyone. Billy’s ass hints at least twice a week that he wants to join the team.”
Billy was one of Saint’s oldest friends and an extremely skilled freelance stylist and tailor. He would be a great asset.
“Well, get Cressida to put the paperwork together, and get him out here ASAP.”
“Good. I heard from Tarquin too.”
“Tarquin! Why on Earth would you want your ex around?”
“He’s great at his job.”
“True. He’s also a whore. He’ll cause trouble.”
Saint shrugged. “He’s still perfect for the gig, and you know it. It will add some lovely diversity to our team.”
Diversity was increasingly important to her staff now that they were surrounded by a complete lack of it.
